Iowa Projects

Gov. Terry Branstad recently recognized Ducks Unlimited for its 75th anniversary by signing a proclamation at DU’s Iowa state convention. The convention celebrated the DU members and volunteers in the state who help make the organization's conservation achievements possible.

Like many other large marshes and shallow lakes in north-central Iowa, Dan Green Slough has experienced a significant decline in waterfowl use during the past several decades due to poor water quality, high water levels, and exploding rough fish populations.

Four Mile Lake is a 215 acre marsh on a 691 acre State Wildlife Management Area. Monitoring of the lake by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources prior to restoration confirmed that the lake had little to no aquatic plant growth, exhibited extremely poor water quality, and was dominated by rough fish.

Ducks Unlimited partnered with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to restore the 45-acre Kiowa Marsh located just off of Highway 20 in Sac County. The marsh is located in the Indian Creek watershed, which flows directly into the North Raccoon River, a major water source for Iowa's largest and most populated city.

Diamond Lake Wildlife Management Area is a 1,099 acre property owned by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Ducks Unlimited partnered with the DNR to improve infrastructure on the lake that will facilitate habitat management.

Nestled among the rolling hills, fertile farmland and rustling burr oak trees of northwest Iowa, another shallow lake is beginning to show signs of life once again. Burr Oak Lake is a large 100-acre shallow lake located in southwest Emmet County.

Eagle Flats Marsh is part of a large 800-acre historic wetland complex in Hancock County, Iowa, that was drained in the early 1900's. This large wetland complex was once part of a long chain of wetlands that formed the natural headwaters of the Iowa River's West Branch.

Slough Wildlife Management Area is 932 acres with 310 acres of wetland basins surrounded by restored native prairie. Once considered a healthy marsh interspersed with emergent vegetation and open water, this wetland complex has slowly deteriorated over time. High water levels and pervasive rough fish problems have diminished the water quality and aquatic plant community leading to reduced forage value for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, April 26, 2006– Ducks Unlimited (DU) and its partners will restore floodplain wetland habitat in the Middle Missouri River Valley of Iowa and Nebraska, thanks to a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant. This grant is phase II of the Middle Missouri River Valley Project (MMRVP) to create larger complexes of managed wetland and grassland habitats that will provide “stepping stones” of habitat for migratory waterfowl in the spring and fall.

Ducks Unlimited (DU) has assisted in the acquisition of the 30-acre Burr Oak Wetland Area, along the Burr Oak Creek in Mitchell County, Iowa. DU contributed funds for the Mitchell County Conservation Board to purchase the land, The conservation board will own and manage the property.

Iowa Ducks Unlimited (DU) recently completed a very successful fundraising drive that allowed development of three habitat projects as a tribute to former Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Larry Wilson. Wilson, an appointee by former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, completed a distinguished career with DNR that encompassed 21 years of service to the State of Iowa.

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